Fed: E Timor's first lady appeals for fair division of Timor gas

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2004
Fed: E Timor's first lady appeals for fair division of Timor gas

East Timor's first lady has appealed to the Australian government to play fair in resolving
the ownership of the Timor Sea oil and gas reserves.

Melbourne-born KIRSTY SWORD-GUSMAO, the wife of East Timorese president XANANA GUSMAO,
says the fledgling nation needs access to the oil to rebuild the country.

She says East Timor isn't asking for special treatment, just a fair division of control
of the estimated $30 billion in royalties from Timor Sea oil and gas deposits, including
the Greater Sunrise field.

She says East Timor is one of the world's poorest countries, with more than 40 per
cent of the population living on 40 Australian cents a day and 12 per cent of children
dying before they're five.

At a forum in Canberra today, she's called for fair play from Australia in resolving
access to the resources of the Timor Sea that will be vital for rebuilding the nation.

AAP RTV mfh/sb/rp

KEYWORD: TIMOR GAS (CANBERRA)

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